Written Answers Wednesday 29 April 2009

Ambulance Service

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12712 by Shona Robison on 13 May 2008, what progress the Scottish Ambulance Service has made in providing training to its volunteer ambulance car drivers.

Shona Robison: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service. However, they have advised that following further consideration of the best way to support volunteer drivers, they can now provide training and advice, on request from volunteers, on what to do when a patient becomes unwell, including basic first aid training as appropriate.

  It is important to note that volunteers only drive patients who are not considered to require the clinical support which the Patient Transport Service (PTS) crew could provide.

Ambulance Service

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many volunteer ambulance car drivers were working for the Scottish Ambulance Service as of 1 April 2009, broken down by division.

Shona Robison: Information on the number of Scottish Ambulance Service volunteer car drivers is held by NHS board area. The numbers as at 1 April 2009, are set out in the following table.

  

NHS Board
As at 1 April 2009


Ayrshire and Arran 
17


 Borders
 5


 Dumfries and Galloway
 22


 Fife
 13


 Forth Valley
 41


 Grampian
 13


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 31


 Highland
 84


 Lanarkshire
 15


 Lothian
 4


 Orkney
 2


 Shetland
 0


 Tayside
 23


 Western Isles
 9


 Scotland
 279



  Note: *Information provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Care of Older People

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are in hospital in Fife waiting for a place in a residential or nursing home.

Shona Robison: Census information is collected on delayed discharges on a quarterly basis. This counts patients who are delayed on the day of the census and figures from the most recent census are shown in the following table.

  NHS Fife Delayed Discharges; Patients Awaiting Place Availability in a Care Home; as at January 2009 Census

  

 Number of Patients1
 Those Delayed for Less than 6 Weeks
 Those Delayed for More than 6 Weeks2


 21
 21
 0



  Source: ISD Scotland.

  Notes:

  1. Number of patients who are ready for discharge, awaiting place availability in a care home, reported as at January 2009 census.

  2. Number of patients ready for discharge with a duration of over six weeks (43 days or more), i.e. the common period for discharge planning agreement timescales across Scotland.

Central Heating Programme

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating systems were installed under its central heating programme for local authority housing in each year since 1999 and how many have been installed in 2009.

Alex Neil: The central heating programme did not start until 2001 and was completed for local authorities by March 2004.

  The number of central heating systems installed under the central heating programme, in local authority properties, is shown in the following table:

  

 Year
 No. Systems Installed in the Public Sector


 2001-02
 4,007


 2002-03
 4,085


 2003-04
 3,878


 Total
 11,970

Central Heating Programme

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating systems were installed under its central heating programme for housing association housing in each year since 1999 and how many have been installed in 2009.

Alex Neil: The central heating programme did not start until 2001 and was completed for housing associations properties by December 2004, except for the Glasgow Housing Association, which due to the numbers involved did not finish its part of the programme until March 2007.

  The number of central heating systems installed under the central heating programme, in housing association properties, is shown in the following table:

  

 Year
 No. Systems Installed in the Public Sector


 2001-02
 941


 2002-03
 1,635


 2003-04
 2,710


 2004-05
 2,720


 2005-06
 1,949


 2006-07
 4,156


 Total
 14,111

Central Heating Programme

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pensioners have applied to have a central heating system installed under its central heating programme since 22 May 2008 and are still waiting as they do not receive a pension credit.

Alex Neil: None. Five thousand five hundred applicants were waiting for a system at 31 March 2009. These applicants have all been assessed as being in one of the priority groups at the time of application, subject to a home survey.

Dyslexia

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many days of continuing professional development courses and other training on dyslexia are provided to teachers per year.

Fiona Hyslop: This information is not held centrally.

  The arrangements for, and content of, continuing professional development are for teachers and their employers to determine. However, the Scottish Teacher Education Committee (STEC), comprising the Deans/Heads of Faculties of Education of the seven universities providing initial teacher education (ITE), have developed a framework for Inclusion, which was launched by me on 27 April 2009.

  The framework identifies the values and beliefs, professional knowledge and understanding and the professional skills and abilities, in terms of inclusive education, to be expected of both student teachers and of qualified teachers at whatever stage of their career. A key part of the framework is an extensive web-based repository of resources, advice and guidance for all teachers seeking further assistance with specific aspects of inclusive education. The resource covers advice on teaching pupils with dyslexia.

Emergency Services

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Super Puma search and rescue helicopter operating from Shetland has been called out and what each response time was.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has no functions in relation to search and rescue helicopters. This is a matter for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, an Agency of the UK Department for Transport.

Forth Crossing

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation has taken place regarding the proposed Forth Replacement Crossing with the affected owners of land and properties adjacent to the revised road layout.

Stewart Stevenson: During 2008 engineers consulted with all landowners who were affected by ground investigation work which was designed to assist with the review of the route options.

  Following my announcement to Parliament in December 2008, Transport Scotland held a series of public exhibitions in January 2009 in order to engage with residents and landowners within the vicinity of the replacement crossing and to gain feedback on the proposals.

  Consultation has continued since the exhibitions with directly affected landowners through individual meetings and correspondence and via meetings with local community councils and residents.

Forth Crossing

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation has taken place with residents of Dundas Home Farm regarding the proposed Forth Replacement Crossing.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland attended a group meeting with residents of Dundas Home Farm on 23 April to discuss a number of issues including design development and environmental mitigation measures.

  This follows discussions with a number of residents at the public exhibitions in January, consideration of the issues they have raised and subsequent correspondence.

Forth Crossing

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the proposed Forth Replacement Crossing, what modelling has been carried out to calculate the noise and visual impacts on Dundas Home Farm residents.

Stewart Stevenson: Noise and visual impact assessments are on-going now that the engineering design has been refined and will be reported in the Environmental Statement (ES) later this year.

Forth Crossing

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the proposed Forth Replacement Crossing, to what extent mineworkings affected the decision to change the route from that originally proposed.

Stewart Stevenson: Mineworkings were not a major factor in the change of route from the indicative route announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in December 2007 to the route I announced to Parliament in December 2008.

  Mineworkings were, however, considered as one of a number of factors in the assessment of route options considered during 2008.

Forth Crossing

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the proposed Forth Replacement Crossing, for what reasons a flyover is required close to Dundas Home Farm.

Stewart Stevenson: A junction is required on the south of the Forth to enable traffic to access between the new southern approach road to the bridge and A904.

  The location of the proposed South Queensferry junction shown at the public exhibitions in January has been reviewed in response to comments arising from the exhibitions. It is now proposed that new dedicated public transport links connect with the A90 to the east of the A8000 and that the South Queensferry Junction be relocated on the A904 to the west of South Queensferry approximately 800m away from Dundas Home Farm.

Forth Crossing

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the proposed Forth Replacement Crossing, whether the proposed route to the bridge passes through greenbelt land.

Stewart Stevenson: Yes, the connecting road between the Forth Replacement Crossing and the A90 at South Queensferry passes through green belt land.

Fuel Poverty

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S3W-21692 and S3W-21693 and by Alex Neil on 1 and 3 April 2009 respectively, whether the funding for the Energy Assistance Package has been allocated to partner organisations on the basis of regional budgets or targets for the number of houses to be assisted in each region.

Alex Neil: Energy Assistance Package funding has not been allocated on a regional basis.

Fuel Poverty

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21691 by Alex Neil on 27 March 2009, for what reasons it has decided not to include under-floor insulation for houses with basements as part of the draught proofing/insulation measures during the first year of Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package.

Alex Neil: Subsequent to the answer to S3W-21691 being tabled we have taken the decision to include under-floor insulation as one of the measures available at stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package, in circumstances where homes have a cellar that provides easy access for installation.

Fuel Poverty

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-21691 by Alex Neil on 27 March 2009 and S3W-19942 by Stewart Maxwell on 27 January 2009, which of the insulation and energy efficiency measures provided by the Energy Assistance Package at Stages 3 and 4 have been included to address fuel poverty issues specific to tenements and tower blocks.

Alex Neil: Eligible householders in tenement flats and tower blocks can access the full range of measures available at stages 3 and 4 of the Energy Assistance Package where the property can take the measure, and there is agreement from neighbours around access to shared areas if required.

Fuel Poverty

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19941 by Stewart Maxwell on 27 January 2009, what arrangements have been established to monitor the impacts of the Energy Assistance Package and to keep under review the range of measures provided.

Alex Neil: Monthly information will be provided to the Scottish Government by the range of organisations delivering the different elements of the Package, and the Energy Saving Trust will publish summary information on its website. Ministers have also asked the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum to monitor the implementation of the package and report back to them on any amendments they consider are required in the light of experience, including to the range of measures on offer.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has allocated to the publication of information materials relating to dementia.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government funds NHS Health Scotland, NHS boards, Alzheimer Scotland and the Dementia Services Development Centre, all of whom prepare and publish information relating to dementia.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has provided in relation to dementia in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09.

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to increase the allocation of funding in relation to dementia to match the investment announced by the UK Government in Living Well with Dementia: A National Dementia Strategy .

Shona Robison: Spend for mental health services, including dementia, is drawn from the record funds allocated to NHS boards and local government. For 2009-10, £11.03 billion will be available for health and £11.2 billion for local government.

  We are also investing over £1.5 million through the Dementia Clinical Research Network and on our work with Alzheimer Scotland and the Dementia Services Development Centre to design effective, practical steps for better and earlier identification and interventions for dementia.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the UK Government’s national dementia strategy to have relevance in Scotland and, if so, what action it intends to take.

Shona Robison: Dementia is a national priority for the Scottish Government and we already have in place a range of initiatives to increase the focus on dementia and support activity. This work has been developed through liaison with the Dementia Forum of experts of dementia care and others involved in dementia care, including people with dementia and those who care for them.

  We are always looking for opportunities to improve services and support for people with dementia, and if we feel that the UK Government’s national dementia strategy offers such opportunities, these will be considered.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve public and professional awareness of dementia.

Shona Robison: Following research we commissioned last year into public attitudes and understanding of dementia we recently launched a pilot campaign in Dundee to raise awareness of the symptoms of dementia and signpost people (or their families) who are worried about significant changes to their memory, to seek help and advice. Entitled Worried about your memory?, the campaign uses the visuals and main messages from an information booklet on dementia created and recently updated and disseminated by NHS Health Scotland.

  Over the next three months, adverts will appear on buses, bus stops, post offices and newspapers and on pharmacy bags. Leaflets with the Alzheimer Scotland helpline number will be posted to homes and GP surgeries. A TV advert will also be screened in GP surgeries.

  Once this is completed, we will fully evaluate how the campaign was run and how effective each part proved to be.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that people with dementia have easy access to care, support and advice following diagnosis.

Shona Robison: We have a specific timetabled NHS target linked to the GP register that focuses on early detention and earlier, better support. We are also investing £600,000 in our work with Alzheimer Scotland and the Dementia Services Development Centre to design effective practical steps for better and earlier identification and interventions, support and information systems following diagnosis. NHS boards also have Dementia Assessment Services that play an important part in diagnosing and responding to the diagnosis.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on the development of structured peer support and learning networks for people with dementia.

Shona Robison: Throughout Scotland opportunities are provided for those with dementia and their carers to provide mutual support and have the chance to learn from each other and experts. These are often facilitated by the voluntary sector such as Alzheimer Scotland and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, as well as health and social work. The Scottish Government encourages collective advocacy and agencies work hard to ensure that those with dementia and their carers are able to feed into processes that locally influence new developments and prioritisation of resources.

Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) men and (b) women aged (i) under 36 and (ii) between 36 and 45 have been admitted to hospital with a heart attack in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the number of emergency admissions involving acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) in the last five years is shown in the following table.

  

NHS Board Residence
Year End 31 March
 Gender by Age Group (Years)


 Males
 Females
 Both Sexes


<36
 36-45
 46+
 All Ages
<36
 36-45
 46+
 All Ages
<36
 36-45
 46+
 All Ages


 NHSScotland†
 2004
 50
 377
 5,227
 5,654
 13
 104
 3,427
 3,544
 63
 481
 8,654
 9,198


 
 2005
 56
 360
 5,003
 5,419
 10
 88
 3,440
 3,538
 66
 448
 8,443
 8,957


 
 2006
 50
 311
 4,886
 5,247
 10
 75
 3,327
 3,412
 60
 386
 8,213
 8,659


 
 2007
 45
 322
 4,529
 4,896
 12
 90
 3,042
 3,144
 57
 412
 7,571
 8,040


 
 2008P
 27
 319
 4,405
 4,751
 7
 73
 2,739
 2,819
 34
 392
 7,144
 7,570


 Scotland
 2004
 50
 361
 5,043
 5,454
 13
 102
 3,325
 3,440
 63
 463
 8,368
 8,894


 
 2005
 54
 350
 4,787
 5,191
 10
 86
 3,354
 3,450
 64
 436
 8,141
 8,641


 
 2006
 44
 297
 4,648
 4,989
 10
 75
 3,235
 3,320
 54
 372
 7,883
 8,309


 
 2007
 45
 300
 4,357
 4,702
 12
 90
 2,962
 3,064
 57
 390
 7,319
 7,766


 
 2008P
 27
 305
 4,231
 4,563
 7
 71
 2,685
 2,763
 34
 376
 6,916
 7,326


 Ayrshire and Arran
 2004
 5
 25
 403
 433
 1
 8
 304
 313
 6
 33
 707
 746


 
 2005
 1
 32
 421
 454
 2
 10
 285
 297
 3
 42
 706
 751


 
 2006
 4
 14
 317
 335
 1
 7
 237
 245
 5
 21
 554
 580


 
 2007
 2
 19
 285
 306
 0
 1
 199
 200
 2
 20
 484
 506


 
 2008P
 1
 14
 239
 254
 2
 5
 160
 167
 3
 19
 399
 421


 Borders
 2004
 0
 3
 119
 122
 0
 3
 79
 82
 0
 6
 198
 204


 
 2005
 0
 11
 116
 127
 0
 1
 76
 77
 0
 12
 192
 204


 
 2006
 1
 9
 207
 217
 0
 0
 113
 113
 1
 9
 320
 330


 
 2007
 1
 7
 136
 144
 0
 0
 101
 101
 1
 7
 237
 245


 
 2008P
 0
 6
 165
 171
 0
 3
 88
 91
 0
 9
 253
 262


 Dumfries and Galloway 
 2004
 1
 5
 113
 119
 0
 2
 78
 80
 1
 7
 191
 199


 2005
 0
 6
 130
 136
 0
 2
 77
 79
 0
 8
 207
 215


 
 2006
 2
 4
 142
 148
 0
 2
 57
 59
 2
 6
 199
 207


 
 2007
 0
 7
 103
 110
 0
 1
 60
 61
 0
 8
 163
 171


 
 2008P
 0
 6
 102
 108
 0
 1
 54
 55
 0
 7
 156
 163


 Fife
 2004
 4
 20
 325
 349
 0
 8
 190
 198
 4
 28
 515
 547


 
 2005
 5
 25
 362
 392
 1
 8
 234
 243
 6
 33
 596
 635


 
 2006
 1
 25
 359
 385
 0
 3
 241
 244
 1
 28
 600
 629


 
 2007
 2
 17
 375
 394
 0
 9
 218
 227
 2
 26
 593
 621


 
 2008P
 2
 19
 337
 358
 0
 5
 185
 190
 2
 24
 522
 548


 Forth Valley
 2004
 3
 22
 278
 303
 0
 4
 162
 166
 3
 26
 440
 469


 
 2005
 3
 16
 243
 262
 0
 3
 179
 182
 3
 19
 422
 444


 
 2006
 2
 16
 239
 257
 0
 3
 127
 130
 2
 19
 366
 387


 
 2007
 4
 13
 173
 190
 2
 7
 115
 124
 6
 20
 288
 314


 
 2008P
 2
 15
 224
 241
 1
 5
 119
 125
 3
 20
 343
 366


 Grampian
 2004
 5
 29
 534
 568
 1
 7
 358
 366
 6
 36
 892
 934


 
 2005
 2
 28
 490
 520
 0
 2
 385
 387
 2
 30
 875
 907


 
 2006
 2
 16
 508
 526
 0
 4
 363
 367
 2
 20
 871
 893


 
 2007
 5
 26
 501
 532
 1
 7
 392
 400
 6
 33
 893
 932


 
 2008P
 4
 28
 564
 596
 0
 3
 419
 422
 4
 31
 983
 1,018


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde 
 2004
 12
 107
 1,155
 1,274
 4
 32
 844
 880
 16
 139
 1,999
 2,154


 2005
 19
 80
 1,078
 1,177
 4
 25
 849
 878
 23
 105
 1,927
 2,055


 
 2006
 14
 83
 1,036
 1,133
 6
 29
 816
 851
 20
 112
 1,852
 1,984


 
 2007
 13
 70
 931
 1,014
 6
 31
 748
 785
 19
 101
 1,679
 1,799


 
 2008p
 7
 86
 869
 962
 1
 19
 599
 619
 8
 105
 1,468
 1,581


 Highland
 2004
 3
 18
 345
 366
 2
 3
 194
 199
 5
 21
 539
 565


 
 2005
 4
 27
 357
 388
 0
 6
 198
 204
 4
 33
 555
 592


 
 2006
 1
 18
 341
 360
 0
 3
 226
 229
 1
 21
 567
 589


 
 2007
 0
 22
 360
 382
 0
 0
 219
 219
 0
 22
 579
 601


 
 2008P
 4
 16
 341
 361
 0
 7
 210
 217
 4
 23
 551
 578


 Island Boards*
 2004
 0
 0
 72
 72
 0
 0
 39
 39
 0
 0
 111
 111


 
 2005
 0
 3
 64
 67
 0
 1
 33
 34
 0
 4
 97
 101


 
 2006
 0
 4
 64
 68
 0
 1
 35
 36
 0
 5
 99
 104


 
 2007
 0
 2
 75
 77
 0
 2
 40
 42
 0
 4
 115
 119


 
 2008P
 0
 3
 85
 88
 0
 3
 38
 41
 0
 6
 123
 129


 Lanarkshire
 2004
 7
 63
 576
 646
 2
 11
 398
 411
 9
 74
 974
 1,057


 
 2005
 11
 57
 507
 575
 1
 11
 344
 356
 12
 68
 851
 931


 
 2006
 10
 52
 486
 548
 2
 7
 359
 368
 12
 59
 845
 916


 
 2007
 12
 44
 491
 547
 1
 12
 310
 323
 13
 56
 801
 870


 
 2008P
 3
 47
 439
 489
 1
 7
 270
 278
 4
 54
 709
 767


 Lothian
 2004
 4
 48
 627
 679
 1
 17
 389
 407
 5
 65
 1,016
 1,086


 
 2005
 4
 46
 617
 667
 1
 14
 381
 396
 5
 60
 998
 1,063


 
 2006
 5
 38
 601
 644
 1
 12
 420
 433
 6
 50
 1,021
 1,077


 
 2007
 5
 56
 635
 696
 2
 14
 358
 374
 7
 70
 993
 1,070


 
 2008P
 4
 54
 584
 642
 2
 9
 384
 395
 6
 63
 968
 1,037


 Orkney*
 2004
 *
 *
 *
 22
 *
 *
 *
 15
 *
 *
 *
 37


 
 2005
 *
 *
 *
 23
 *
 *
 *
 7
 *
 *
 *
 30


 
 2006
 *
 *
 *
 33
 *
 *
 *
 19
 *
 *
 *
 52


 
 2007
 *
 *
 *
 40
 *
 *
 *
 17
 *
 *
 *
 57


 
 2008P
 *
 *
 *
 32
 *
 *
 *
 17
 *
 *
 *
 49


 Shetland*
 2004
 *
 *
 *
 22
 *
 *
 *
 10
 *
 *
 *
 32


 
 2005
 *
 *
 *
 15
 *
 *
 *
 6
 *
 *
 *
 21


 
 2006
 *
 *
 *
 15
 *
 *
 *
 8
 *
 *
 *
 23


 
 2007
 *
 *
 *
 21
 *
 *
 *
 9
 *
 *
 *
 30


 
 2008P
 *
 *
 *
 28
 *
 *
 *
 11
 *
 *
 *
 39


 Tayside
 2004
 6
 21
 496
 523
 2
 7
 290
 299
 8
 28
 786
 822


 
 2005
 5
 19
 402
 426
 1
 3
 313
 317
 6
 22
 715
 743


 
 2006
 2
 18
 348
 368
 0
 4
 241
 245
 2
 22
 589
 613


 
 2007
 1
 17
 292
 310
 0
 6
 202
 208
 1
 23
 494
 518


 
 2008P
 0
 11
 282
 293
 0
 4
 159
 163
 0
 15
 441
 456


 Western Isles*
 2004
 *
 *
 *
 28
 *
 *
 *
 14
 *
 *
 *
 42


 
 2005
 *
 *
 *
 29
 *
 *
 *
 21
 *
 *
 *
 50


 
 2006
 *
 *
 *
 20
 *
 *
 *
 9
 *
 *
 *
 29


 
 2007
 *
 *
 *
 16
 *
 *
 *
 16
 *
 *
 *
 32


 
 2008P
 *
 *
 *
 28
 *
 *
 *
 13
 *
 *
 *
 41



  Source: ISD SMR01.

  PProvisional.

  Notes:

  In recent years, a number of sensitive and specific diagnostic tests have helped clinicians refine the way in which acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is diagnosed and treated. These tests measure the amounts of troponin and creatine kinase released into the blood when part of the heart muscle is damaged. The incorporation of these biomarker levels in definitions of AMI may have affected the recording of AMI over recent years. Since it is likely that cases previously undiagnosed would now be correctly determined as AMI, it may be that the size of downward trends in the incidence of AMI has been understated in the source data used in the table.

  †NHSScotland total includes non-Scottish residents.

  *ISD’s Disclosure Control procedure has been applied to reduce the risk of releasing sensitive information as a result of presenting small numbers of cases for individual Island NHS boards (Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles). See:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/files/Protocol_ISDOnline_April09.pdf.

  Variations in the definition, recording and coding of AMI may also affect inter-hospital and inter-health board comparisons of AMI incidence, prevalence and post-AMI survival.

Housing

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the issues in relation to antisocial behaviour and the licensing process for houses in multiple occupation highlighted by Sarah Boyack MSP in her speech on the antisocial behaviour framework on 2 April 2009 ( Official Report c. 16538) it considers need to be addressed and what action it envisages taking to address them.

Alex Neil: In her speech on 2 April 2009, Sarah Boyack MSP referred to an alleged "loophole" in the licensing process for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), because that regulatory regime does not cover short-term lets, in which antisocial behaviour may take place.

  HMOs are required to be licensed primarily to ensure they meet standards designed to protect their residents from the risks of living in this type of accommodation. In order to obtain a licence, the owner of the property may, for example, be required to carry out alterations to the property to make it suitable to be the home of the relevant number of occupants.

  As the Scottish Government has previously made clear, we have concerns about the position of tenants in multiply-occupied short-term lets, who may be living and working in Scotland, but are excluded from the protection of HMO licensing because landlords claim that the property is not the only or principal residence of the occupants. This particularly affects migrant workers. We will discuss with stakeholders the possibility of including such short-term lets in licensing, in order to extend to such tenants the protection it affords. Landlords of these properties are already required to register with local authorities.

  We have no plans to extend HMO licensing to holiday accommodation, where the occupants are merely visiting an area, not living and working there. Such regulation would have a considerable impact on the tourism sector. Under antisocial behaviour legislation, local authorities have powers to deal with antisocial behaviour in such premises, including issuing on the spot fines and seizing noise-making equipment.

  The implications of including any category of property within HMO licensing go far beyond issues relating to antisocial behaviour and it would not be appropriate to extend HMO licensing to any category of accommodation solely to address such issues.

Housing

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22158 by Alex Neil on 19 March 2009, what it would define as a genuine holiday let.

Alex Neil: Within the context of the licensing of houses in multiple occupation, if there were to be any changes to the definition of a licensable property, a legal definition of a holiday let would be drafted if that proved necessary to distinguish such a property from licensable properties. If such a definition proved to be necessary, we expect that it would reflect the distinction between properties occupied by tenants who are living and working in an area and those occupied by people who are visiting an area for a short period for the purposes of a holiday.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of expenditure in relation to the development of a pilot community court in the east end of Glasgow, broken down by (a) nature, (b) amount and (c) date of each expenditure.

Kenny MacAskill: In addition to the costs of Scottish Government officials working on the Community Justice Centre project, £15,525 was paid in March 2009 to Ridgeway Consultants who were commissioned to produce a detailed business plan setting out the full capital and revenue costs of the project.

  The Project Lead was seconded from Glasgow City Council who paid all salary and expenses costs in respect of that role. Glasgow City Council was also fully funded for the provision of administrative support to the Project Lead at a cost of £7,078.02. This amount was also paid in March 2009.

  Project Board members attended five board meetings and provided advice and information when requested. Their costs were fully met by their respective organisations.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its research, what benefits it considers that community courts would bring.

Kenny MacAskill: The business plan, produced by external consultants, anticipated the following benefits from the establishment of a Community Justice Centre:

  Increase community safety by contributing to reducing crime in the area and in particular those crimes identified by local people as a priority.

  Improve community involvement in the justice system by responding to community concerns of nuisance behaviour and crime and creating a more responsive and integrated approach in the area.

  Improve the effectiveness of local justice by reducing re-offending rates, including seriousness and frequency, by those sentenced at the centre. This will be through a problem solving approach to local issues and a holistic approach to offenders and victims, tackling the underlying causes of crime.

  Improve the efficiency of local justice by dealing with cases quickly; reducing the time it takes from someone being charged to being sentenced.

  Improve confidence in the justice system and its agencies by the community, victims and participants.

  Improve offender accountability by increased compliance with community sentences and reducing the use of short term prison sentences where possible.

  Improve community outcomes by having those sentenced by the centre carry out unpaid work in the local community as part of payback or reparative justice.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the basis was for its decision not to pursue a pilot community court in the east end of Glasgow.

Kenny MacAskill: The decision was taken by the Community Justice Project Board on the basis of a detailed business plan which highlighted the high revenue costs of creating and staffing a new facility. In the current financial climate, this did not offer best value for money.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to reintroduce plans for a pilot community court.

Kenny MacAskill: We have no plans at present to reintroduce plans for a community justice centre. The business plan highlighted the high capital and revenue costs for creating and staffing a new court facility and these costs did not include the service gains for which the community justice centre would have been a springboard. We are therefore discussing with Glasgow City Council the extent to which those service gains may be realised without the requirement for a specific building.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its officials were involved in the development of plans for a pilot community court in the east end of Glasgow and between what dates this work was completed.

Kenny MacAskill: Two officials worked on this project on a part-time basis from June 2008 to April 2009. A senior manager chaired the five project board meetings which took place during this period.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hours its officials spent developing plans for a pilot community court in the east end of Glasgow and between what dates this work was completed.

Kenny MacAskill: Two officials worked on the project on an approximate basis of one to one and a half days per week between June 2008 and March 2009. A senior manager chaired the project board.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date work began on developing plans for a pilot community court in the east end of Glasgow.

Kenny MacAskill: Initial plans for the development of a community justice centre took place under the previous Administration. Work on the current feasibility study started in June 2008.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers have been involved in the development of plans for a pilot community court in the east end of Glasgow; how many hours were spent by each minister, and between what dates this work was completed.

Kenny MacAskill: The current Cabinet Secretary for Justice has not been directly involved, but was kept informed of the development of the plans for the Community Justice Centre between May 2008 and March 2009.

Medication

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions for antidepressants were dispensed in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: Information on the number of prescriptions dispensed between 2006 and 2008, by prescribing NHS board is shown in the following table.

  

 NHS Board
 Calendar Year


 2006
 2007
 2008


 NHS Scotland
 3,605,541
 3,796,815
 3,946,116


 NHS Ayrshire and Arran
 280,078
 294,526
 307,984


 NHS Borders
 83,579
 89,459
 92,714


 NHS Dumfries and Galloway
 119,814
 127,193
 131,736


 NHS Fife
 237,361
 247,851
 257,465


 NHS Forth Valley
 206,236
 215,862
 223,694


 NHS Grampian
 291,833
 312,468
 323,627


 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 995,638
 1,040,057
 1,078,504


 NHS Highland
 200,692
 211,009
 220,185


 NHS Lanarkshire
 436,254
 459,682
 474,474


 NHS Lothian
 440,587
 467,947
 489,897


 NHS Orkney
 10,543
 11,831
 12,302


 NHS Shetland
 13,047
 13,930
 14,820


 NHS Tayside
 271,174
 285,051
 297,230


 NHS Western Isles
 18,705
 19,949
 21,484



  We have a published target to reduce the levels of antidepressant prescribing in Scotland and action continues to expand accessible alternatives to prescribing in those cases where this is appropriate. The clinician in consultation with colleagues and the service user will continue in all cases to decide the best care option for the needs presented.

Mental Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that community health teams should be able to provide the full spectrum of physical and mental health interventions to local communities.

Shona Robison: Local, multi-disciplinary Community Mental Health Teams in each NHS board area already provide care, services and support, according to individually assessed needs. This will also include attention to the physical health needs of people with mental illness.

NHS Hospitals

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have been admitted to hospital for injuries from (a) assault by a blunt object, (b) assault by a sharp object and (c) gun shots in each of the last 10 years.

Nicola Sturgeon: The following table shows the number of children admitted to hospital as a result of an injury caused by (a) assault by blunt object, (b) assault by sharp object and (c) gun shot.

  Number of hospital admissions1 as a result of assault by blunt object, assault by sharp object and firearm discharge; for children aged 0 to 16; for year of discharge ending 31 March 1999 to 2008:

  

Year of Discharge
Assaultby Blunt Object
Assaultby Sharp Object
Assault by Firearm Discharge
Accidental Firearm Discharge
Intentional Self Harm by Firearm Discharge
Firearm Discharge of Undetermined Intent


 1998-99
 60
 77
 *
 28
 -
 *


 1999-2000
 51
 81
 *
 42
 *
 *


 2000-01
 69
 83
 6
 39
 *
 -


 2001-02
 60
 102
 *
 38
 -
 -


 2002-03
 62
 136
 5
 29
 -
 *


 2003-04
 50
 88
 *
 37
 -
 -


 2004-05
 67
 82
 *
 22
 -
 *


 2005-06
 47
 94
 *
 19
 -
 -


 2006-07
 54
 96
 *
 10
 -
 -


 2007-08
 43
 84
 *
 6
 -
 -



  Source: ISD Scotland (SMR01).

  Notes:

  - Zero value

  *Value one to four.

  1. These statistics are derived from data collected on discharges from non-obstetric and non-psychiatric hospitals (SMR01) in Scotland.

NHS Staff

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Review of Nursing in the Community pilot will be evaluated.

Nicola Sturgeon: The new service model will be independently evaluated in two stages: a Baseline Study and an Evaluation Study. During 2008, an external research team led by Napier University, collected baseline data to be used to inform the full Evaluation Study and to provide a before and after comparison of the four Pilot Sites.

  The research focused on the current role of community nurses and their views of the new model to be tested. Also included were client views, and in particular their experiences of receiving care and support from community nurses.

  The Baseline Study report was published on 2 April and can be accessed on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/266873/0079883.pdf.

  A briefer research findings document is also available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/03/17101957/0.

  The Evaluation Study will assess the impact of the introduction of the new service delivery model on patients and staff. Proposals for the Study are currently being finalised by the national Programme Board’s Evaluation Sub Group. However, it is expected that there will be 2 phases to the Study. Phase 1 will be an interim evaluation of early implementers by the end of 2009 and phase 2 will provide a full evaluation of the whole project in 2010.

NHS Staff

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Review of Nursing in the Community model will be rolled out across Scotland following completion of the pilot and, if so, when.

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it plans regarding the nursing profession following the completion of the Review of Nursing in the Community pilot.

Nicola Sturgeon: Decisions on the future of community nursing in Scotland will be informed by the outcomes from the four Pilot Sites and other key areas of work, including an independent evaluation of the project which will be carried out later this year and in 2010. Until then I am keeping an open mind on the future of community nursing services.

NHS Staff

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons the Review of Nursing in the Community pilot is proceeding in Caithness when two of the three groups of nurses have opted out.

Nicola Sturgeon: Although the five Public Health Nurses in the Thurso Community Nursing Team in Caithness asked in December 2008 not to participate further in the development of the new service model, their District Nursing colleagues decided to continue with the pilot and six of these will transition to the new Community Health Nurse role.

  It has always been recognised that a "one size fits all" approach would not be desirable or practical in testing and evaluating the new service model. A key feature of the model is its flexibility to adapt and respond to local circumstances and need. It is essential that future decisions are informed by the full range of experiences gained from a variety of local approaches. The variation demonstrated by the Thurso team will provide a valuable contribution to that process.

NHS Staff

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will evaluate the Review of Nursing in the Community pilot in Caithness given that two of the three nursing groups have opted out.

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of various groups opting out of the Review of Nursing in the Community pilot, how it plans to evaluate the pilot.

Nicola Sturgeon: It has always been recognised and anticipated that a "one size fits all" approach would not be desirable or practical in implementing and testing the new service model. A key feature of the model is its flexibility to adapt and respond to local circumstances and need. Each Pilot Site is developing the model in a way that best meets its local needs and achieves the aspirations set out in the report of the Review of Nursing in the Community, Visible, Accessible and Integrated Care .

  It is important that we learn from the full range of experiences gained from a variety of local approaches in developing the model. All four Pilot Sites will be evaluated and the local variations will provide an extremely useful breadth of information for future decision making.

  Proposals for the Evaluation Study are currently being finalised by the national Programme Board’s Evaluation Sub Group. However, it is expected that there will be 2 phases to the Study. Phase 1 will be an interim evaluation of early implementers by the end of 2009 and phase 2 will provide a full evaluation of the whole project in 2010.

NHS Staff

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how nursing workforce mobility across the United Kingdom will be ensured if the Review of Nursing in the Community model is rolled out.

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to ensure that community nursing training will be transferable across the United Kingdom if the Review of Nursing in the Community model is rolled out.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the regulatory body and competent authority for nurses and midwives in the UK, is fully engaged with the project through NHS Education for Scotland (NES).

  On behalf of the Scottish Government, NES is leading on all education aspects of the project which includes working with the NMC to address regulatory issues should the new service model be rolled out in the future.

  NES has developed a capability framework for the Community Health Nurse role, underpinned by NMC standards, thus ensuring transferability of skills and competencies on a UK basis. A transitional education framework for existing nurses who wish to become Community Health Nurses has been put in place.

  Requirements for future community health nurse programmes are also being considered should the model be rolled out. Existing education programmes for District Nurses and Public Health Nurses will continue to run within higher education institutes.

NHS Staff

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what contact it has had with the Royal College of Nursing regarding the future of community nursing and its recent report, A Sustainable Future: the RCN Vision for Community Nursing in Scotland .

Nicola Sturgeon: The Royal College of Nursing is represented on the Review of Nursing in the Community’s national Programme Board. RCN Scotland presented their findings from a scoping exercise undertaken in spring 2008 to inform the development of its consultation proposals to the board on 23 September 2008. RCN Scotland is scheduled to attend the board’s next meeting on 19 May to discuss the consultation and report.

  The Chief Nursing Officer, Project Management Team and Programme Board Chair meet regularly with the Board’s partnership representatives, including RCN Scotland, to discuss the project and community nursing in general. There have also been various informal discussions between Scottish Government officials and the Director of RCN Scotland and RCN Scotland policy officials on the consultation and report.

NHS Staff

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to work with the Royal College of Nursing to develop a framework for community nursing.

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to work with RCN Scotland and other stakeholders to develop the framework for community nursing and other proposals as set out in the recent RCN Scotland publication A Sustainable Future: The RCN Vision for Community Nursing in Scotland and, if so, how such proposals will be developed.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government welcomes the Royal College of Nursing’s report A Sustainable Future: The RCN Vision for Community Nursing  and the on-going contribution of its members in influencing the future of nursing in the community.

  Visible, Accessible and Integrated Care, the report of the 2006 Review of Nursing in the Community, proposed a framework to support the development of a new service model for community nursing. It is underpinned by seven core elements as the foundation for community nursing practice. The model is currently being piloted in four NHS board areas - NHS Borders, NHS Highland, NHS Lothian and NHS Tayside - and will be independently evaluated.

  We very much value the joint working with RCN Scotland in this area including their involvement on the project’s national Programme Board and the local Steering Groups overseeing the pilots. We will continue to work with RCN Scotland to share and explore ideas for the future of community nursing.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scotland’s communities and its own community health policies will be best served by ensuring a distinction between community nursing roles focused on children, young people and families and roles focused on adults and older people.

Nicola Sturgeon: The 2006 Review of Nursing in the Community found that not only were individuals, carers, families and communities unsure of which community nursing service to access to meet their particular needs, but also that health and social care services professionals were confused and frustrated by the number of community nursing roles and titles which could lead to unnecessary delays in accessing appropriate nursing support and advice.

  The service delivery model proposed by the Review report Visible, Accessible and Integrated Care provides for a single point of contact for access to community nursing services and recommends that the disciplines of District Nursing, Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting and School Nursing) and Family Health Nursing be absorbed into a new single Community Health Nursing Discipline.

  The service model provides generic nursing services across the lifespan and is being tested in four Pilot Sites: NHS Borders, NHS Highland, NHS Lothian and NHS Tayside. A key feature of the model is its flexibility to meet the local health needs of communities and each Pilot Site is developing the model and configuring its teams to best meet the needs of its area. The model is supported by nursing workforce planning to develop the capacity and capability to meet these needs.

  The service model will be independently evaluated and the outcome of the Evaluation Study will determine what approach works best and inform our decisions for the future. Until then I am keeping an open mind on the future of community nursing services.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of any anticipated increase in the complexity and volume of healthcare interventions in the community, whether it considers that clinical accountability for the community nursing caseload should be provided by nurses working at advanced practitioner level or above.

Nicola Sturgeon: The service model proposed by Visible, Accessible and Integrated Care,  the report of the 2006 Review of Nursing in the Community, which is currently being piloted, fully supports that lines of accountability for service delivery are clearly structured.

  The responsibility and accountability for community nursing caseloads will be determined through the structures established in the service model at a local level. Key roles supporting this may be a team leader, advanced practitioner or community health nurse.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are to explore the potential of a generic community staff nurse role following the publication of RCN Scotland’s A Sustainable Future: The RCN Vision for Community Nursing in Scotland report and the results of the baseline study of the Review of Nursing in the Community pilots.

Nicola Sturgeon: Plans are already in place to explore and develop the potential of the generic staff nurse role as part of the pilot arrangements for the service model proposed by Visible, Accessible and Integrated Care  the report of the 2006 Review of Nursing in the Community.

  NHS Education for Scotland is currently completing work on the development of a framework document to provide principles and guidelines for the development of staff nurses within the community health nursing team. A national job description and KSF outlines have been developed in consultation with staff.

  The Scottish Government will consider the potential of the generic community staff nurse role when the independent evaluation of the Pilot Sites is reported.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the number of nurse consultants available to work with community teams in NHS boards.

Nicola Sturgeon: The service model proposed by Visible, Accessible and Integrated Care  the report of the 2006 Review of Nursing in the Community, provides for the introduction of the Community Nurse Consultant role. Work is in progress to develop an outline job description for this role.

  Recent Scottish Government Health Directories guidance on the NHS Career Framework for Scotland underpins the consistent development of Nurse, Midwife and AHP Consultant roles in shaping and influencing care delivery, service strategy and professional development across NHS Scotland. Importantly, all such role development takes place in parallel with, and in support of, wider service and organisational developments and it would be for individual NHS boards to determine whether to appoint new Community Nurse Consultants based on local service need.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the decrease in the number of nurses undertaking specialist postgraduate education, what its plans are to reinvigorate career choices for community nurses in Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon: To maintain and enhance the quality of healthcare provision, service planners at board level and centrally within the Scottish Government have been undertaking a range of activities to maximise NHS Scotland’s workforce capacity and capability. This means looking at new ways to develop and support skills and new combinations of staff groups better suited to the delivery of care in the 21st Century.

  The service model proposed by Visible, Accessible and Integrated Care the report of the 2006 Review of Nursing in the Community, demonstrates a modernised community nursing career pathway. NHS Education for Scotland has developed capability frameworks for the advanced practitioner role and community health nurse role and a five-stage work based learning approach to transitional education underpinned by the capability frameworks.

  The service model introduces the Community Nurse Consultant role and work is underway to develop new roles such as the Associate Practitioner. Pilot Sites are also developing new roles for staff nurses and newly qualified nurses on the Flying Start NHS programme. NHS Education for Scotland is currently completing work on the development of a framework document to provide principles and guidelines for the development of staff nurses within the community health nursing team.

  The service model promotes leadership at every level and provides opportunity for community nurses to gain competencies and enhanced capability to demonstrate leadership qualities which will enhance their position for future management posts should they wish to progress that route.

  The service model will be independently evaluated and the outcome of the Evaluation Study will inform future developments.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of Audit Scotland’s statement in Financial Overview of the NHS in Scotland 2007-08 that "There is no evidence of a change in the balance of health expenditure to match the move towards more community-based care", whether it will ensure that community nurses are given the resources required to meet growing community health needs.

Nicola Sturgeon: All NHS boards receive an annual allocation of funds from the Scottish Government. It is for each NHS board to decide how best to utilise these funds to meet the health care needs of its resident population, including community health services, taking account of national and local priorities.

  A key development in piloting the service model proposed by Visible, Accessible and Integrated Care the report of the 2006 Review of Nursing in the Community, is the progress being made on community nursing workforce and workload planning systems. This work will enable NHS boards to consider the resources required to support demands within community nursing.

  Each Community Health Partnership will have access to detailed knowledge on how current workforce and workloads are impacting on services and will enable them to develop and configure community nursing teams by informed design and to identify other resources required to meet team and service needs.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with RCN Scotland, as outlined in its A Sustainable Future: The RCN Vision for Community Nursing in Scotland report, that community health teams must have adequate, dedicated administrative support if community nurses are to be enabled to focus their work on patient care and, if so, how it will ensure that this happens.

Nicola Sturgeon: The service model proposed by Visible, Accessible and Integrated Care , the report of the 2006 Review of Nursing in the Community, fully acknowledges that community nursing teams require administrative support. However, it is for each NHS board and Community Health Partnership to decide how best to utilise its resources to meet the health needs of its resident population, taking account of national and local priorities.

NHS Staff

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of bullying have been raised by NHS employees under the dignity at work programme and how many of them have been upheld in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Employment matters, such as incidences of bullying, are a matter of delegated authority for NHS employers.

  Although the Scottish Government does not hold this information at a national level, the staff survey, carried out by the Staff Governance team within the Health Workforce Directorate, gives an overview of bullying and harassment through the voluntary responses of NHSScotland staff. The staff survey results published in January 2009 have shown a decrease in the number of staff indicating that they have been subject to bullying and harassment in the workplace.

  In addition, the Scottish Government has put in place a pilot project for Dignity at Work that will form part of the Partnership Information Network (PIN) Policies that are currently under review.

National Health Service

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it appropriate for NHS staff with an IT problem related to Atos software to be kept on hold for over 45 minutes when calling the national helpline.

Nicola Sturgeon: ATOS Origin Alliance will investigate specific instances of poor performance if further details can be provided. Call monitoring records inspected over the last three months cannot identify a call of this duration.

National Health Service

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the NHS service level agreement with Atos Origin is regarding the time taken to answer telephone inquiries to its national helpline.

Nicola Sturgeon: The NHS service level agreement with Atos Origin is to answer 80% of calls within 40 seconds.

Older People

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve end-of-life care for people with dementia.

Shona Robison: Living and Dying Well , Scotland’s first national action which was published on 2 October 2008 indicated NHSScotland would develop a single, comprehensive approach to the provision of palliative and end-of-life care that would be embedded across Scotland for the first time. The actions described in Living and Dying Well represent a package of measures to support anyone diagnosed with palliative and end-of-life care needs, regardless of age, diagnosis or location.

  The Standards for Integrated Care Pathways for Dementia, published by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHSQIS) (Bib. number 44373) includes consideration of needs in terms of end-of-life care. NHS boards are adapting approaches to meet these standards to ensure the right care is offered at the right time

Planning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth was told by Mr Macdonald at the SNP National conference in 2007 and what the outcome was of the meeting held at the conference between the Minister for Community Safety, the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism, the chairman of the Cairngorm National Park Authority and the convenor of Highland Council.

Roseanna Cunningham: Both the meetings were non-ministerial conversations. The Scottish Government does not hold any information on such meetings.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers or Transport Scotland have considered bringing the Edinburgh south suburban railway network back into use for either heavy or light rail.

Stewart Stevenson: The Edinburgh South Suburban Railway (ESSR) is designated by Network Rail as a primary freight route, conveying around 50 freight trains per day. The re-opening of the ESSR to passenger services was considered through the Strategic Transport Projects Review, but was not included in the final recommendations as recent studies concluded that there was no business case for its re-opening. There are therefore no plans to use the line for passenger traffic.

Rail Network

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Network Rail about providing gauge enhancement measures on the railway between Edinburgh and Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what cost estimates it has of providing gauge enhancement measures on the railway between Edinburgh and Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland officials recently met with Network Rail representatives concerning proposed gauge enhancements on the East Coast Main Line from the border to Mossend/Coatbridge, including the section between Edinburgh and Berwick-Upon-Tweed. When the result of Network Rail’s study into this proposal is made available, it will be considered by ministers and discussions will continue between Transport Scotland, Network Rail and key stakeholders.

Road Signs

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a moratorium on the erection of bilingual road signs and, if so, how long this will last.

Stewart Stevenson: There is no moratorium on the erection of bilingual road signs in areas where these have been authorised by the Scottish Government. In particular we are continuing the authorised programme of installing bilingual direction signs on the A82 trunk road between Tarbert and Inverness and on those trunk roads that lead direct to the Western Isles’ ferry ports of Kennacraig, Oban, Mallaig, Uig and Ullapool.

Schools

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many school nurses there were in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The following table provides the number of whole-time equivalent (WTE) and head count school nurses broken down by NHS board for 2007 and 2008. These figures are collected by Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland and available from the link below:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=Nursing%20and%20midwifery%202008.xlsandpContentDispositionType=attachment.

  Data for 2006 is unavailable due to the non-direct match between Whitley Council grades and new Agenda for Change bands.

  

 School Nurses by NHS Board
 Whole-Time Equivalent as at 30 September 2007
 Head Count as at 30 September 2007
 Whole-Time Equivalent as at 30 September 2008
 Head Count as at 30 September 2008


 NHS Ayrshire and Arran
 28.6
 38
 31.2
 42


 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 45.5
 63
 52.5
 70


 NHS Lanarkshire
 37.2
 47
 33.6
 42


 NHS Forth Valley
 12.0
 19
 13.5
 22


 NHS Dumfries and Galloway
 5.6
 10
 5.8
 9


 NHS Borders
 4.0
 6
 4.7
 8


 NHS Fife
 25.9
 32
 22.2
 27


 NHS Lothian
 13.9
 24
 12.2
 21


 NHS Highland
 16.9
 23
 19.8
 27


 NHS Grampian
 27.4
 43
 33.5
 57


 NHS Orkney
 1.4
 2
 1.4
 2


 NHS Tayside
 2.7
 4
 1.5
 2


 NHS Western Isles
 -
 -
 -
 -


 NHS Shetland
 0.7
 1
 -
 -


 Total
 221.8
 312
 232.0
 329



  Source: Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland.

Schools

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have been admitted to hospital for injuries that occurred at school from (a) assault by a blunt object, (b) assault by a sharp object and (c) gun shots in each of the last 10 years.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information is not available centrally about whether hospital admissions caused by injuries are due to assault by a blunt object, assault by a sharp object and gun shots occurred at school.

Sport

Mr Frank McAveety (Glasgow Shettleston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21582 by Shona Robison on 18 March 2009, how many school sports clubs receive subsidised sports lets and what direct funding has been given to schools for this purpose.

Shona Robison: The information requested on subsidised sports lets is not held centrally. This is a matter for individual local authorities. On funding, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21580 on 18 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Sport

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many municipal golf courses have been closed in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.

Shona Robison: This is a matter for individual local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.

Sport

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with South Ayrshire Council regarding its proposal to close Dalmilling Golf Course in Ayr.

Shona Robison: It is a matter for South Ayrshire Council to consider as owners of the golf course.

Swimming Pools

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many municipal swimming pools have been closed in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.

Shona Robison: This is a matter for individual local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.